The Murray, Hong Kong names new GM
The Murray, Hong Kong has appointed Dean Dimitriou as its new general manager, effective immediately.
With a career spanning over 20 years in the hospitality industry, Dimitriou will spearhead strategic development, drive commercial growth, and foster a culture of service excellence in his new role.
He was previously the general manager at Niccolo Chengdu in China.
Festival of light illuminates Australia’s Northern Territory
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light will light up for 10 nights in Northern Territory’s Alice Springs Desert Park, featuring new illuminations, artworks, talks, music, and markets from April 12 to 21.
Organised by Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) and in partnership with Creative Directors Grumpy Sailor and events destination company We Are Gather, this free event will delight visitors under star-studded desert skies, celebrating the importance of interconnectedness across First Nations culture in Alice Springs (Mparntwe).
Parrtjima’s large-scale light installations includes the MacDonnell Ranges Light Show, which sees almost two kilometres of the 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges come to life through a new, extended light and sound show, and the much-loved Grounded, which projects animated Indigenous art onto the red sands of Alice Springs Desert Park.
Other new light installations include The Arrernte, a series of illuminated cars which celebrate a collage of work across Eastern, Western and Central language groups; Honouring, an immersive passageway which will pay homage to the great Arrernte leader, the late MK Turner OAM; and Tjoritja Cockatoos, where the evocative artwork of artist and director of Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre, Vanessa Inkamala, is brought to life across three screens and represents the cyclical and seasonal work of country.
For the first time, expert puppeteers will bring to life the theatrical experience Arelhe Urrperle, standing at six-metres tall and weighing 600kg. Strolling through the festival sharing language and stories, Arelhe Urrperle represents the matriarchs and knowledge holders in Aboriginal cultures, recognising the influence and importance of the First Nations women, their strength and spirit, and their role as providers to the families connected to the Arrernte skin groups.
In another first, a three-night marketplace will offer art, bush medicine, jewellery and beauty products from local Aboriginal businesses and art centres from April 12 to 14.
Other highlights include appearances by singer-songwriter Shellie Morris, R&B artist Miiesha, Indigenous performers will be performing during the festival.
NTMEC CEO Suzana Bishop said: “Parrtjima not only brings together the world’s oldest living cultures with leading-edge technology, it brings together people from across the country to connect and engage with our First Nations people and cultures.
“It is also an event that makes a meaningful and positive impact on local communities, as well as the local economy.”
Yam Kum Weng to lead Changi Airport Group as CEO
Changi Airport Group (CAG) has named Yam Kum Weng as the new CEO.
He will take over the reins from Lee Seow Hiang, who has served as CEO for the past 15 years – Lee will also step down as a director on the CAG Board and as chairman of the boards of Changi Airports International (CAI) and Jewel Changi Airport Devt.
Yam will also be appointed a director of the CAG Board and as chairman of the CAI Board with effect from July 1.
He currently serves as CAG’s executive vice president, airport development, leading the Changi East project including Terminal 5.
New hotels: Courtyard by Marriott Fukui, Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur and more
Courtyard by Marriott Fukui, Japan
Courtyard by Marriott Fukui is part of the Fukui-densha Street Redevelopment project, a multi-use commercial and residential complex, and is located approximately 45km from Komatsu Airport.
The hotel offers 252 guestrooms and suites, and features two dining venues, lobby lounge and bar, as well as a fitness centre and meeting spaces, which comprises four event rooms and a ballroom.
Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Each guestroom at the new 110-key Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur has been designed to bring the outdoors indoors, so guests can experience a slice of ‘Bali’ within an urban city.
Rooms range from 17m² to 50m², with a dipping pool (jacuzzi), F&B, co-working space, as well as event spaces.
The hotel’s sustainability efforts comprise replacing single-use shower bottles with pump dispensers, transitioning from plastic to paper amenities, and naturally-ventilated corridors to save energy on using around the clock air conditioning.
Situated in the bustling area of Imbi, nearby are the newly-opened Exchange 106 mall at TRX, KLCC, Bukit Bintang, Pavilion Mall and the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.
Novotel Phnom Penh BKK 1, Cambodia
Novotel Phnom Penh BKK 1 boasts 254 guestrooms, ranging from Superior rooms to Executive Suites with either city or Mekong River views. Guests staying in Executive Rooms can enjoy access to the Executive Lounge on the 20th floor, offering private meeting spaces for both work and social interaction. Other facilities include F&B venues, a swimming pool, fitness centre and spa.
Located just a few minutes’ walk to Bassac Lane and Langka Lane, two of the liveliest neighbourhoods in Phnom Penh, the hotel is also within a ten-minute walk from the Independence Monument and Wat Langka, one of the city’s oldest pagodas. Shopping malls, office buildings, and the riverside area are also within easy reach.
ibis Jakarta Raden Saleh, Indonesia
Featuring 105 rooms with city views and cosy comforts, ibis Jakarta Raden Saleh’s prime location affords access to the CBD and transportation hubs, as well as to historical landmarks including the arts, cultural, and science centre of Taman Ismail Marzuki, local markets and restaurants, as well as shopping malls.
Facilities include a social hub in the lobby, six versatile meeting and function spaces, and an all-day dining restaurant. In its efforts to reduce plastic pollution, no single-use plastics are used throughout the hotel’s operations.
Changes and advancements
How well has Hong Kong’s hotel industry recovered so far? What is the business outlook for 2024?
In 2023, Hong Kong’s average room occupancy stood at 82 per cent, compared to 91 per cent in 2018, which was a record year. We are still on the recovery path, as per capita spending by overnight visitors was only HK$6,100 (US$778) versus HK$6,600 in 2018. Also, passenger flight capacity last year reached only 55 per cent of the 71.5 million recorded in 2018.
However, during the eight days of Lunar New Year 2024, hotel performance rebounded to 2019 levels. The average occupancy rate was 93.4 per cent, which was only slightly lower (0.4 percentage points) than in the same period in 2019. The average room rate was HK$1,715, an increase of six per cent over 2019, surpassing original projections.
High-end hotels performed well this Golden Week holiday, but rates of mid- to budget categories barely reached 2018 levels. This is because there are fewer group tours from China and the travel patterns of Chinese visitors are changing. For example, small-group and individual travellers are no longer staying overnight. In the old days, groups could spend on average from HK$800 to HK$1,000 per room but now can’t even afford HK$600. Yet there are opportunities: Qingdao and Xi’an, each with a population of 10 million, were recently added to the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) cities, so travel agents and medium-tariff hotels should work together and craft group packages to court business from these cities.
The Airport Authority is projecting that air traffic at Hong Kong International Airport will recover fully by the end of this year, although (it) hasn’t shown any supporting data. I understand that less than six months ago, Cathay Pacific said it still needed 1,800 pilots. The shortage of passenger seats remains an issue and, therefore, (is) a critical part of a vicious cycle driving airfares higher as carriers try to cover overheads and overall income. (Thus), we hope Mainland China and international carriers will bring more visitors to Hong Kong.
What are the driving forces behind the industry’s pace of recovery?
We recognise the critical role of the government in organising more mega-events to enhance the city’s vibrancy, especially in providing additional funding – about HK$100 million for promotion and HK$1.95 billion to implement and execute these events. It might consider leveraging these mega-events with local district events to create activities around the clock, a dynamic environment that attracts international and Chinese mainland visitors.
Hong Kong has many attractions beyond fireworks, and things to do. Rethinking in-depth tour products and itineraries would further enhance Hong Kong as a destination.
Adding more cities to the IVS in combination with relaxing duty-free spending limits here for Chinese mainland visitors, as proposed, would be a strong incentive for more visitors to come here to spend.
However, I must say that better communication among the trade, government, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and the retail sector would engender closer collaboration, the kind that allows local district events to be folded in with broader experiences and be better targeted to specific audiences. Since tourism came under the same bureau as culture and sports two years ago, we look forward to a culture-sports-tourism blueprint.
Hong Kong will resume its three per cent hotel accommodation tax next year. What does impact will it have on HKHA and its members?
This tax (will return) after 16 years, from January 1, 2025. The industry was not consulted, so we were surprised when it was announced in the 2024–25 Budget Speech. Even though the government has invested heavily in the mega-event economy, this tax may well give visitors pause about making extended and even overnight stays here, because hotel guests will bear the cost. It will place an additional administrative burden on hotels even as they struggle with the continuing manpower shortage.
We understand the government needs income but why impose the tax when hoteliers are still holding out for a tourism recovery? It is an unwelcome strain, especially now. Collaboration and transparency are essential to safeguarding Hong Kong’s economic recovery and ensuring the sustainability of our vital tourism sector.
Another government policy – ban on single-use plastics – will soon come into play. How will this affect the hotel industry?
This policy will come into effect on April 22. Hotels must adapt swiftly to comply with regulations, which may entail additional costs. To this end, we are working closely with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to arrange briefing and training for hotel members and draw up best-practice guidelines.
However, being able to use only certain types of suppliers will doubtlessly affect rates. Therefore, we urge the EPD to establish a website dedicated to approved suppliers and alternative products to disposable plastic tableware and banned hotel amenities.
Local and stand-alone hotels are going to have to bear higher costs than international hotel chains; they may have to charge for in-room amenities, affect(ing) guests’ impressions.
My own hotel chain has a green initiative to switch from plastic bottled water to water filters and smart water-refilling stations, but some clients still want free bottled water. So, I think it is vital to educate not just locals, but also travellers so they too are aware of our green movement.
What challenges does the hotel industry face today?
Manpower crunch, higher operating costs and, consequently, lower service standards. Two years ago, there were 40,000 full-time hotel staff. Last June, there were 30,000 – 25 per cent fewer! Where did they all go? Most emigrated, but apart from those, people changed jobs or were headhunted by other industries, like insurance and banking, because these types of industries appreciate hospitality skills.
Covid-19 also forced many owners to cut staff or have full-timers take unpaid leave. Even loyal, long-serving staff (were not) spared, so they lost confidence in the hotel business. Part-time staff is only a temporary solution to tight labour supply, but is more costly. We (have) appealed to the government to expedite the application process of the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme and to add the hotel sector to the Sector-Specific Labour Importation Schemes.
In this difficult transition, housekeeping and F&B – service and kitchen – are suffering. Having too many part-timers can affect the quality of service. Let’s not forget that there are new hotels in the pipeline, which will add more pressure (on human resources).
The solutions? Immediately importing labour, yes, but another is to expand vocational and technical channels to attract people to work and stay in Hong Kong, such as the Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme. Hotels do not need degree holders to be waitresses or chefs.
NCL to expand fleet, develop private island in the Bahamas
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has unveiled a decade-long strategy which will enhance the company’s product offering, guest experiences, and operational infrastructure.
This comprises its most comprehensive new build order in its history – with a total of eight vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths, and new classes of ships for each of its three brands – and the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island destination in the Bahamas and its Caribbean port of call.
The new ship orders across all three brands are scheduled for delivery over a 10-year period, between 2026 and 2036. Following the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships – each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests – in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing.
Building on the success of its Allura Class ships, the last one being delivered in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,450 guests in 2027 and 2029.
Lastly, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029.
In partnership with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, each brand will design their new ship class and focus on creating the largest, most efficient, and innovative vessels of their respective fleet. Aligning with the company’s sustainability efforts, the new ship designs are expected to advance the journey towards decarbonisation.
Details regarding the ships’ amenities, staterooms, dining, recreational, efficiency, sustainability and other features will be announced in the coming months.
“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth,” shared Harry Sommer, president and CEO of NCLH.
“It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet.”
In addition, the new pier development at Great Stirrup Cay, NCLH’s private island in the Bahamas is slated to break ground in summer 2024 and be completed by late 2025 with an investment of approximately US$150 million.
The new pier will be constructed to simultaneously accommodate two large vessels of the company’s current and future ship classes, which will enhance the guest experience on Great Stirrup Cay.
Sommer added: “We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round.”
Wyndham signs new hotel in Vietnam’s Hai Duong city
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is expanding its presence in Vietnam with the recent signing of Wyndham T&T Hai Duong in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The hotel marks the first Wyndham in Hai Duong, and will add to the company’s portfolio of 16 hotels across seven brands in Vietnam.
Wyndham T&T Hai Duong is slated to open its doors in 2026.
Situated in the heart of Hai Duong City within the vibrant trade-service-entertainment centre complex, the 214-room Wyndham T&T Hai Duong will offer amenities such as a gym, pool, spa, meeting spaces, and dining options.
Amadeus expands presence in biometrics with acquisition of Vision-Box
Amadeus has completed the acquisition of Vision-Box, a leading provider of biometric solutions for airports, airlines, and border control customers.
The deal has now received all necessary regulatory approvals in the relevant markets.
Vision-Box solutions will become part of Amadeus’ portfolio offering for airports and airlines. The combined offering of the two companies will allow Amadeus to deliver a fully integrated traveller journey, from the moment of booking to arrival at the airport, including border control and boarding.
Vision-Box’s founder and CEO, Miguel Leitmann, will join Amadeus and report to Decius Valmorbida, president of travel, Amadeus. Vision-Box’s 470 employees will join Amadeus as well.
Vision-Box, a fast-growing global business with expected revenues of €70 million (US$75.26 million), and an estimated normalised EBITDA of close to €20 million in 2023, is partially owned by Keensight Capital, a private equity fund dedicated to pan-European Growth Buyout investments. Amadeus has acquired privately-owned Vision-Box for an agreed price (enterprise value) of approximately €320 million.
Attractions professionals to meet in Bangkok this year
IAAPA, the leading global association for amusement facilities and attractions, will gather its members for its annual IAAPA Expo Asia in Bangkok, Thailand from May 27 to 30 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
The event will carry the theme, Shape Your Evolution at IAAPA Expo Asia: Evolve your business into a leading market player, and feature education sessions across five main categories such as Professional Development and Industry Insights, and Operational Excellence and Maintenance; EDUTours that take delegates through some of Thailand’s premier parks for a firsthand look at successful operations in action; and plentiful networking opportunities.
The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has partnered with Cambodian real estate development company Canopy Sands Development to manage two properties – Oakwood Bay of Lights Sihanoukville, and Summer Bay Beach Club & Cabins by Preference.
This is the first-ever collaboration between Ascott and Canopy Sands Development, which marks the arrival of the second Oakwood property in Cambodia and introduces the Preference brand to the country for the first time.
As Cambodia’s tourism sector continues its rebound, Oakwood Bay of Lights Sihanoukville and Summer Bay Beach Club & Cabins by Preference are poised to become sought-after destinations for travel enthusiasts, business travellers, and those on relocation to the Kingdom of Wonder.
Nestled within the township of Sihanoukville, the 250-key Oakwood Bay of Lights Sihanoukville and Summer Bay Beach Club & Cabins by Preference offer visitors choices for short-term and long-term stays. Residents and visitors have access to a golf course, a marina, a dynamic performance theatre, tourism walking streets, shopping malls, medical facilities, financial and educational institutions.
Summer Bay Beach Club & Cabins by Preference is tailored for inquisitive explorers who are eager to immerse themselves in cultural heritage, unique architecture, and the natural surrounding landscapes. Nestled along the shoreline, the beach club comprises 60 cottages, each affording sea views and exclusive beach access. Recreational facilities and amenities include a water park, private beach area, and gourmet dining options.
Expressing his optimism, David Richard, managing director of Bay of Lights Entertainment for Summer Bay, shared: “The partnership with Ascott aligns with our vision to elevate the hospitality and tourism landscape in Sihanoukville. We believe that by offering diverse and world-class experiences, we can attract a wider range of visitors and enhance the reputation of the Bay of Lights and Cambodia as a premier destination.”
David Cumming, regional general manager of Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar, The Ascott Limited, said: “We expect strong demand for the two properties in view of their excellent location and the positive outlook ahead.”